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Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:06 am

300 miles into a long trip and the engine of my 91 Westy started to lose power here and there. No warning lighs, just a missing engine. Camped overnight and got her warmed up to find same. Trying some fuel injector cleaner now and looking for advice or a good mechanic in NM. I am in springer, about 30
Miles to las Vegas, nm and 120 to Santa fe.

Thanks,

Adam 814 571 8079

Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:12 am

Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:16 am

Call tencentlife he is in NM. Best in NM. Name:Chris Corkins Abiquiu, New Mexico. Good Luck

Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:27 am

There are a few folks within 100 miles of Las Vegas on the Vanagon Rescue Squad list:

http://www.vanagonauts.com/index.phtml?catid=74

Good luck!

Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:25 am

Two things come to mind, Vanagon Syndrome and/or a grounding O2 sensor. If your power comes back after a re-start (or just switching the engine on and off), then the Syndrome may be it. If your power loss is accompanied by a very rich mixture, then the O2 sensor, or a grounding problem within its wiring could be the issue.

Missing can also be spark plug wires, cap and rotor and the coil itself. Other sources can be the Hall send's wiring shorting or the plug cracking at the distributer. You can also have poor running from a failing Fuel Pressure Regulator. It can make the engine mis, depending on if it is failing rich or lean (too high or low of fuel pressure).

Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:00 am

Thanks to all who have responded via email and phone. The support has been amazing.

We are currently in Santa Fe and have the van at European AutoWerks with Tom who was willing to work on it last night and this morning with no notice. I am blown away with their willingness to help out. Along with being willing to work on the van late into the night, Tom and Dawud helped us book a hotel room, and gave us a ride to the hotel. Amazing. Many thanks.

Still no clarity on what is going on. The posts have helped narrow the possibilities, so thanks. Tom is gonna road test it today and see if he can replicate the problem. In the garage at idle and higher speeds on the lift he could not reproduce the chugging we have been experiencing. He thinks the fuel filter needs to be replaced as well as the cap and rotor. We are hoping for a quick fix but are being realistic and have rented a car to continue our trip to San Diego and will pick the van up on the way home. Real bummer as we are totally stocked for a week of camping on the beach - food, bikes, surboards.. :(

We are still debating making the trip with the van even with the periodic chugging and seeing if we can make it work. This seems stressful at least. Most advice we have gotten is that this problem will most likely not result in a total breakdown, but intermittant chugging....

So, Who among you would make the journey in the chugging van?

Am I crazy in considering this?

Thanks again to all. This is quite a community we have here.

Adam, Stephanie and Alia and Profunda Azul (Deep Blue), the van.